Miller Stauch Construction shares love for KC, HQ projects

Miller Stauch Construction is currently working with Schier Products to build their new office headquarters at the corner of Woodland Drive and Shawnee Mission Parkway in Shawnee Mission, Ks.

The 52,000 SF building will include a combined office and warehouse space for the grease interceptor manufacturer's approximate 50 employees, who will be moving into their new state-of-the-art headquarters, designed by GBA, upon completion later this year.

But that's not the only office headquarters project Miller Stauch has working in KC.

First Heritage Bank and doorLink Manufacturing will also move into new office headquarters later this year, thanks to Miller Stauch, who is about to reach a milestone century of working in KC.

“Miller Stauch Construction has been building Kansas City for over 95 years. We love Kansas City and are proud to do our part to establish new homes for our clients,” said Grace Elmore, marketing manager for Miller Stauch.

First Heritage Bank, who currently has five locations in Kansas, is working with Miller Stauch and

Davidson Architecture & Engineering, to build their newest branch in the heart of Lenexa, Ks. The new HQ location includes 5,500 SF of space and will house the bank’s commercial banking division.

Residential and commercial door manufacturer, doorLink Manufacturing, will be moving into their new headquarters later this year as well. The new space includes 240,000 SF of office, manufacturing and distribution space in Riverside, Mo.

"Kansas City is rapidly growing and is making a name for itself on the national stage. Companies are planting their roots here, which is exciting to both participate in and experience,” said Greg Dean, director of business development for Miller Stauch.

Miller Stauch is an expert in the retail, office and industrial markets and has completed several similar projects in Kansas City over the years. This includes an 80,000 SF industrial office building for North American Safety Valve, completed in 2018.

"GBA has worked with Miller Stauch Construction for 35 years on many successful projects in the industrial/manufacturing sector. We truly enjoy the long-term partnership among their team and ours," Craig Rogge, principal for the GBA buildings group, said.

Overland Park receives nation’s first LEED zero energy commercial project

In a collaboration between U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) president and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam, and Brookridge developer Chris Curtin, a first-of-its-kind Memorandum of Understanding has been signed, forging a partnership that will create an ongoing process to achieve LEED and LEED Zero Energy certifications for Brookridge Development in Overland Park.

Brookridge, a cross-generational 200+-acre mixed-use development, will feature nearly 2 million SF of office capacity, high-quality urban living spaces, extensive retail, restaurant and entertainment venues.

It will also spotlight a multi-faceted focus on health and wellness, including approximately 50 percent green space, fountains, recreational golf, fitness facilities, miles of walking paths, connections hike/bike trails and both forested and open lawns.   

Brookridge will tap into the abundant supply of wind and solar sourced energy produced in the State of Kansas to address the goal of significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the project.

In recognition of the unique nature of this partnership and its focus on wind and solar generated energy, the State of Kansas has also joined the effort.

Last week, Kansas Secretary of Commerce David Toland co-signed the Brookridge Renewable Energy Initiative, placing the state at the forefront of sustainable development.

“The Brookridge development, with the support of the State of Kansas, is thinking differently in terms of how our spaces can be designed to support environmental and personal health. LEED is providing the framework and their commitment to achieve LEED Zero Energy is yet another sign of their leadership and drive to create a better world,” Ramanujam said.

Chuck Caisley, KCP&L (Evergy) senior vice president and chief customer officer, also joined the State of Kansas in endorsing the Brookridge Renewable Energy Initiative.

“Kansas is different than coastal or mega-cities. Great things happen when our public and private sectors work in close partnership. We create the synergy necessary for significant environmental and joint economic success,” said Curtin, founder of Curtin Property Company.

The comprehensive Green program at the Brookridge development is also designed to work harmoniously with Overland Park’s dedicated visioning and planning efforts laid out in the initiatives of the City of Overland Park.

“The leaders of Overland Park set forth a set of ideas around a built environment that is both sustainable and visually impactful, further advancing the community’s destination for business development, entertainment, leisure and family time,” Curtin said.

 “A project of the size and scope of the Brookridge development – along with the commitment being made to it – will serve to put the State of Kansas at the forefront of sustainable development,” added Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.

Other partners involved in the project include WDG Architects - Land Planning and Architecture and GBA - Civil Engineering.

GBA Celebrates 50 “Remarkable” Years

This month Lenexa-based GBA turns 50 and has much to celebrate including steady growth, embracing change and providing remarkable solutions in the architecture/engineering industry for half a century.

Founded by civil engineer George Butler in 1969, the firm George E. Butler & Associates, Inc. began with just ten employees in a small office on the sixth floor of a downtown Kansas City office. Today, GBA and its subsidiaries employ a staff of 275 in seven states.

“It’s something that I never dreamed I’d get to see but I’m really honored that the firm has done so well, and most of that’s happened since I left [laughs].……,” recalls the founder and CEO Butler in GBA’s commemorative 50th anniversary video.

The firm quickly made its mark on the KC metro community with one of their first projects, the Jackson County Sports Complex, later named the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex. The firm was responsible for the civil engineering design and all site work surrounding the stadiums, which included the design of parking lots, roadways and utilities. This was no small feat at the time, considering that this was the first, two-stadium sports complex in existence. 

In 1970, Butler’s lifelong friend George Saller joined as a principal of the firm, quickly broadening the firm’s services with his extensive mechanical and electrical engineering experience. Water environment, mechanical, electrical and plumbing services were added to the company in the 1970s.

Now in the midst of implementing a five-year strategic plan, the GBA team is focused on technology and innovation to meet the ever-changing needs in delivering transportation, environmental, building and development projects.

“During my career at GBA, change has been constant; we’ve embraced new technology and adapted our services to meet the needs of our clients and communities,” said GBA President/CEO Tim Ross. “As we continue to grow, one thing that won’t change is our commitment to creating remarkable solutions for our clients.”

GBA is headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, in the Renner Ridge Corporate Center, where the firm provided planning, building design, site development and surveying. The firm has regional offices in Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas and Illinois.